Steve McClaren

[afar]

I agree with your post but he isn't going to lose his job under any circumstances.

 

If we're in the bottom 6 come February then he'll lose his job imo.

 

What do you base that on? Not being an arse, like. Just seems highly unlikely given how early we'd be into his tenure and, obviously, recent historical events suggesting that even the worst managers are f***ing bulletproof as long as they've got a contract going forward.

 

We'd have to be rock stoney bottom in April to see any movement in the dugout, imo.

 

Ashley can't afford to get relegated this season. He'll do anything to avoid it and if it looks likely then we'll bin him in the hope the new bloke gets a few wins, staying up is all that has ever mattered.

 

We kind of thought that last year, but he still rolled the dice with Carver and kept the useless git in charge despite the run he went on. I doubt McClaren will go unless we fail to win a game before the new year.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

We were showing some encouraging signs before tonight, God knows why we were suddenly so shit. Hopefully it's the final proof he needs that De Jong and Perez have to play and certain other players are a waste of skin.

[Guest]

I don't the back four itself has been particularly bad so far tbh. They were bullied by Pelle on the first game, granted I didn't see the Swansea match but I've not came away thinking they've been bad as a unit.

[Parky]

Too defensive and conservative so far.

[Dave]

http://i.imgur.com/muuZkTI.png

 

[Mole_Toonfan]

Don't find it a coincidence that most of them happened when he was forced to take one of the DMs off and bring on two attackers and Aarons later on.

 

Disgustingly toothless.

[Conjo]

It always amazes me how so many people can see what is generally the better line up, yet so many managers we´ve had the last decade doesn´t.

 

It so painfully obvious that we would be way better off with Gini moved further back in place of either Colback or Anita (Colback gets my vote for the bench or reserve squad), and De Jong or Perez in the hole.

[Dave]

I'm not sure it's painfully obvious we'd be better off, but I'd much rather see us fail through having a go than fail like we did tonight.

[Stottie]

I only saw the highlights and the analysis but the latter shows a chronic lack of activity in the final third. No "down to 10 men" or "away at Man U" excuse this time.

 

The goals conceded were both sloppy, but not especially from the back four. Mark Noble did more in the first one than our entire midfield in the whole match. In spite of us conceding all those goals last year, they are now a bigger problem than our defence.

[Stottie]

More defensive than Pardew is a load of s**** like

It's not.  He's playing two DM's.

 

Pardew played Colback & Tiote together this time last year.

 

Colback under Pardew wasn't a DM in the sense of Anita or Tiote. Look at the goals from the 3-2 against Everton, Pardew's last game.

[cubaricho]

http://i.imgur.com/muuZkTI.png

 

 

And someone was contesting the fact that we don't shoot from outside the box. It's been something that has been lacking over the past two or three seasons. We just don't do it, and we aren't even fucking Arsenal.

[Interpolic]

Seems a bit thick, this bloke like. If he doesn't realise Perez is our best player then it's concerning. The lad's got everything, if nowt else having a player who's clever enough to know when and where to pass it gives us a massive advantage, given that most of our players don't seem to have a clue in that respect.

[Guest]

Needs to learn quickly the Anita/Colback partnership doesn't work. As much as I want Perez in the team, there's at least reasons for him not being in, but no excuse now for these two.

[Interpolic]

They're actually keeping him out of the side though, Perez could easily slot in anywhere across the front 4 and we'd not jeopardise our balance too much by taking out one of Colback or Anita.

 

People can say what they like about needing 2 conservative midfielders in the team (I disagree anyway) but it's not even making us look much more solid and it's most certainly contributing to us having fuck-all going forward.  Just slot Perez in anywhere - left, right, central - doesn't matter.  Kid needs to be on the pitch, no excuses.

 

If McClaren doesn't appear to understand that over the next few games I'll actually start getting a bit concerned.

[Guest]

They're actually keeping him out of the side though, Perez could easily slot in anywhere across the front 4 and we'd not jeopardise our balance too much by taking out one of Colback or Anita.

 

People can say what they like about needing 2 conservative midfielders in the team (I disagree anyway) but it's not even making us look much more solid and it's most certainly contributing to us having f***-all going forward.  Just slot Perez in anywhere - left, right, central - doesn't matter.  Kid needs to be on the pitch, no excuses.

 

If McClaren doesn't appear to understand that over the next few games I'll actually start getting a bit concerned.

 

Even if he plays Gini in midfield I could see valid reasons for a front four of say Thauvin, De Jong, Sissoko & Mitrovic when they're all fit.

 

Agreed it's wank though if it still means Colita in midfield.

[Interpolic]

I know what you're getting at and there are loads of ways we could line up in attacking positions now.

 

However I think Perez starting needs to be a given, he's our best player.  If we'd bought him for more money he'd be in the team.

[Lush Vlad]

Wjinaldum looked much better in the short time he had further back.  De Jong showed a bit of awareness trying to link play and had some nice touches.  Perez managed to be our best player on the night, sealed this about 10 minutes after coming on and all. 

 

I'm sure it will be the same depressing starting lineup at the weekend though.

 

http://i.imgur.com/muuZkTI.png

 

 

And someone was contesting the fact that we don't shoot from outside the box. It's been something that has been lacking over the past two or three seasons. We just don't do it, and we aren't even f***ing Arsenal.

 

Probably going off subject a bit.  But I'm sure our stats under Pardew were padded out, because we used to have so many speculative efforts from miles out.  I wouldn't mind us actually having a go from further out now and then.  Problem is, we don't seem to even have any capable players high enough up the pitch to even have a crack. 

[Dr Venkman]

In the long run that mightn't be the worst thing to happen to us if he can now suss out the likes of Colback.

 

Let's hope so. I'm still reserving judgement but last night was awful, soundly beaten by an average team with one player.

 

Team selection needs a rethink as plenty of others have said. It was so annoying seeing Mbemba constantly calling for someone to pass to along the floor whilst we've got players like Perez and Aarons on the bench.

[Guest chopey]

So boring and predictable, two defensive midfielders, the only width is from full backs running on that constantly get caught out, don't really create any real chances and regamented pre arranges substitutions..........and to think we spoke to viera

[sempuki]

So boring and predictable, two defensive midfielders, the only width is from full backs running on that constantly get caught out, don't really create any real chances and regamented pre arranges substitutions..........and to think we spoke to viera

Forgot about Vieira....

[Gallowgate Toon]

In the long run that mightn't be the worst thing to happen to us if he can now suss out the likes of Colback.

 

Let's hope so. I'm still reserving judgement but last night was awful, soundly beaten by an average team with one player.

 

Team selection needs a rethink as plenty of others have said. It was so annoying seeing Mbemba constantly calling for someone to pass to along the floor whilst we've got players like Perez and Aarons on the bench.

 

And when we did actually manage to find some decent penetrating passes through the middle, we kept on losing it when trying to build up play (usually because of Cisse's first touch).

[Dr Venkman]

In the long run that mightn't be the worst thing to happen to us if he can now suss out the likes of Colback.

 

Let's hope so. I'm still reserving judgement but last night was awful, soundly beaten by an average team with one player.

 

Team selection needs a rethink as plenty of others have said. It was so annoying seeing Mbemba constantly calling for someone to pass to along the floor whilst we've got players like Perez and Aarons on the bench.

 

And when we did actually manage to find some decent penetrating passes through the middle, we kept on losing it when trying to build up play (usually because of Cisse's first touch).

 

Yeah, the less said about that pissed idiot, the better.

[Mr Logic]

I think a lot of us knew after 15-20m that something needed changing on the pitch and I kept waiting for McClaren to do something. That nothing happened until 60 something minutes was very alarming and it wasn't even the right choices imo. I remember reading from a Derby supporter that he was no good at changing things during a match.

 

I absolutely saw Colback hiding yesterday, as in not making himself available - and it looked quite deliberate to me. He was watching the ball go back and fore between defenders.

 

I saw signs that both Wijnaldum and Mbemba were bewildered/annoyed and its likely a lot of the players know something is not working. Where does Cathro sit during the match, every time I saw McC he didn't seem to be anywhere near him.

 

The main thing for me was it keeps showing the midfield dynamo of Anita and Colback is more of a stumbling block than any kind of solution and Perez should be the first name on the team sheet.

[Nexumaster]

The formation he keeps using is really winding me up. Anita and Colback looked like a pair of headless chickens and Cisse does fuck all up front on his own. All this means the midfield three have a lot of work to do and none of them have struck me as being world-beaters by any stretch of the imagination.

[ExiledGeordie]

We were showing some encouraging signs before tonight, God knows why we were suddenly so s***. Hopefully it's the final proof he needs that De Jong and Perez have to play and certain other players are a waste of skin.

 

Yeah you'd have to hope last night has made him realise that certain players need to be starting now.

 

50m spent in the summer was a start but even though the four signings have the potential to be good they're all unproven in the premier league. Given the ramifications of the next TV deal and the lack of spend in recent years 50m is a drop in the ocean and failing to bring in another striker given Cisse is nowhere shows they dropped a bollock really. I think we really needed to bring in some proven quality together with potential, eg players like Austin. We've been so bad in recent years that it was always going to take time but McClaren is going to have to start finding a winning formula soon otherwise we'll be in deep shit soon enough. Watford game is massive.

 

Have a feeling that January is going to be crucial now to secure premier league status. Given the absurd money involved in the next TV deal they're going to have to buy proven quality to make sure they stay up. No haggling, just identify targets and buy them. If they don't I think we're in major trouble.